The IAEA announces the discovery of antipersonnel mines around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant (Ukraine)

July 25 () –

A group of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have discovered directional antipersonnel mines on the outskirts of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant (Ukraine), under the control of the Russian Army.

Although the Ukrainian authorities had already denounced the existence of these explosives in the vicinity of the plant, the IAEA had not yet found evidence of their placement.

However, the director of the agency, Rafael Grossi, reported on Monday about the discovery of the mines between the barriers of the internal and external perimeter of the place, which is an area restricted to the workers of the plant; the investigation team has not found any on the inner perimeter.

“But having such explosives at the site is inconsistent with IAEA safety standards and nuclear safety guidance, and creates additional psychological pressure for plant personnel, although the IAEA’s initial assessment based on its own observations and clarifications from the plant is that any detonation of these mines should not affect the site’s nuclear safety and security systems. The team will continue its investigations at the plant,” Grossi said, according to an IAEA statement.

“As previously reported, the IAEA has been aware of previous mine-laying outside the site perimeter and also in particular locations within. Our team has raised this specific finding with the plant and they have been told it is a military decision, and in a military-controlled area,” the director added.

PLANT SECURITY

The IAEA team claimed to have heard “several detonations” at some distance from the site during the night of last Saturday.

In addition, during the weekend the temporary loss of connection to the main electrical current was reported due to a technical failure during some maneuvers, something that did not endanger safety.

Regarding the availability of water for cooling the six nuclear reactors after the destruction of the Kajovka dam in early June, the IAEA has reported that the supply remains stable and sufficient for “a few months”, and that the reduction of water is one centimeter per day both due to use and evaporation.

NO SIGNS OF HEAVY MILITARY EQUIPMENT

On the other hand, Grossi has assured that the experts present at the plant have not found heavy military equipment during their inspections and that they are still asking for access to the roofs of the reactors and the turbine room.

The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, has been under the control of Russian forces since March 4, 2022. Since then, both Kiev and Moscow have reproached each other for carrying out hostile actions there.